A room of paint has three jobs hiding inside it. The first is preparation, which is most of the work. The second is the painting itself. The third is the cleanup and the touch-up after the furniture goes back. When you decide between doing it yourself and hiring it out, the decision turns on the first and third jobs, not the second.
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Count the prep hours honestly
Prep means moving furniture, covering floors and outlets, removing switch plates, filling holes, sanding glossy surfaces, washing walls where grease or smoke has built up, and taping trim. Walk the room and write down every surface that needs work. Then estimate hours for each one, and add time for the second coat and for drying between coats. Most people underestimate the drying time and the number of walls that need patching.
If the house was built before 1978, the paint may contain lead. Sanding or scraping that paint without precautions can spread lead dust. Ask any contractor whether they follow lead-safe work practices, and read the EPA guidance on lead-safe renovation before you sand anything yourself.
Plan the ladder work and the access
High walls, stairwells, and ceilings are where injuries happen, and where a hired painter earns the fee. Check whether you have a stable ladder or a rolling staffold that fits the room, and whether anyone in the house can spot you while you work. Mom should not be in the room while sanding, scraping, or spraying, and she should be out of the house while fumes from solvent-based paint are present.
What to ask a painter before you hire
Ask for a written scope that lists the surfaces to be painted, whether prep and patching are included, how many coats are included, and whether trim and ceilings are part of the price. Ask who moves the furniture and who protects the floors. Ask for proof of liability insurance and whether the company will carry a warranty on the finish. Ask who comes back for touch-up if a seam shows or a roller mark appears after the first week. The person who answers that last question is the person who owns the finish.
How to compare the two paths
Compare like with like. Put your prep hours next to the painter's proposed prep. Put your ladder time next to their crew time. Then ask what happens when the job runs long, because a self-run project is most likely to slide past the weekend you planned. If you choose to do the work yourself, set a finish date, and if you hire it out, make sure the written scope names the same finish date.